MILWAUKEE (AP) — A Milwaukee man convicted Wednesday of first-degree reckless murder and two other felonies for his role in the Jan. 17 shooting death of a Kaukauna man.
A jury deliberated about an hour before finding 48-year-old Mack D. Chambliss guilty of the murder of 34-year-old Adam R. McCormick in the basement of a Milwaukee residence.
Chambliss was also convicted of concealing a dead frame and being a burglar in possession of a firearm. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. nine in Milwaukee County Circuit Court.
Authorities say nearby Milwaukee citizens said they heard two gunshots, such as a voice saying “clean the basement,” and then saw two Americans place a frame on a Mercedes-Benz at 2036 Fairmount Ave.
A witness in that argument took a position between Chambliss and an unknown person. According to the robber’s complaint, the witness testified that Chambliss whipped the guy with a gun and yelled “you tried to catch me!”before shooting him.
The witness said Danelle Eaton, 35, of Milwaukee, and Angelina Ruesch, 28, of Hartland, transported the victim to the Mercedes in Chambliss, where Chambliss and Ruesch loaded the frame into the car. Eaton then told Chambliss to clean the basement, first. Eaton loaded a bag of clothes and basement carpet into the trunk of his car.
McCormick frame discovered in a vehicle in Cambridge.
After the investigation, a police officer said he saw new blood on the porch of the apartment and bloody footsteps leading to the basement, which emitted a strong smell of bleach, the thief’s complaint said. Forensic investigators decided there was blood in the basement and a worn 9mm brass box was discovered in an open black sports bag, according to the complaint.
According to the complaint, police discovered Melissa Calvert, 34, of Milwaukee, in a garage at 8828 W. Fairmount Ave. , at the scene of an active fire. She was dressed in rubber gloves and had a gun in her waistband. In an interview with a detective, Calvert said Eaton asked him to burn a bag of clothes in the lobby, according to the complaint.
Ruesch and Eaton were charged with hiding a corpse and aiding a criminal, and Calvert was charged with possessing a firearm while convicted of a felony and aiding a criminal.
According to the complaint, an anonymous individual stated that prior to the killing, they had stayed for about a week in Chambliss’ apartment on 41st Street, along with several other people, and added Chambliss, Ruesch and McCormick. Ruesch, while Ruesch allegedly had romantic emotions for Chambliss.
Around five o’clock in the afternoon. On Jan. 16, the day before McCormick’s murder, the individual said McCormick came down crying and said he and Ruesch were separating. Around 6 p. m. , McCormick, Ruesch and Chambliss left in a Mercedes-Benz and returned. Police later discovered the Mercedes-Benz’s registration at Chambliss’ address, the thief’s complaint said.
A forensic examination that McCormick died of a single gunshot wound to the chest, according to the complaint.
Kelli Arseneau contributed to this report.